Dooley Named to the AVCA All-America Third Team
12/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Dec. 16, 2009
TAMPA, Fla.—Senior Meagan Dooley was announced as an AVCA Division I Third Team All-America selection for the first time in her career and became just the third Panther to achieve this honor in program history. Additionally, senior Michelle Rossi was named to the 2009 AVCA Division I Honorable Mention All-America list, a first for her, as well.
"These are outstanding honors for Meagan and Michelle," Pitt Head Coach Toby Rens said. "I'm very happy for both."
Dooley is the first Pitt player to earn an All-America selection since Wendy Hatlestad was honored on the third team in 2003. Prior to that Ann Marie Lucaine was a second team awardee in 1993.
"Meagan worked very hard during the off season and this fall," Rens added. "She did everything the right way so it's great to see her recognized with this award. The leadership and growth that she has shown over the past two seasons has been outstanding.
"So many people like Kim King (strength trainer), Brian Bonnar (trainer), Meagan's teammates and Sophia Duck (sports information) have helped her behind the scenes."
Dooley's post-season honors also include AVCA Northeast All-Region First Team, Big East Player of the Year and unanimous All-Big East first team accolades. Additionally, she is the first Panther to become an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America and AVCA All-America recipient.
This past season, Dooley led the team with 434 kills, a .355 hitting clip and 168 total blocks. She ranked as high as sixth in NCAA Division I blocks per set and was in the country's top 20 in overall points per set. Her 168 blocks (135 block assists and 33 block solos) were just enough to rewrite the history books, as she set the single-season record last recorded by Michele Adamson in 1990.
After four seasons with the Panthers, Dooley is second overall in career total blocks (519), block assists (394) and solo blocks (125).
Just one of eight liberos to earn any recognition as an All-America selection on all four lists, this season, Rossi is Pitt's fifth AVCA All-America honorable mention selection and first since 2006. Pitt's first-ever libero, Megan McGrane, was honored in both 2003 and 2004 with the same nod.
This season, Rossi has garnered All-Northeast Honorable Mention, Big East Libero of the Year and her first-ever All-Big East selection. She boasted a 4.89 digs per set average and ranked among the nation's top-50 in that same category.
Rossi collected 2,078 digs in her career and ranks second overall on the program's record list. She recorded 20 or more digs in 11 matches this season, including four with 30 or more. Rossi tallied a career-high 37 digs against Seton Hall, which was one shy of a school record.
The Panthers recorded a 20-11 overall record and tied for second in the Big East during the regular season.
